What records do I own?

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Am I getting senile or do I have too much stuff? I have bought two records that I already own in the recent months - one I thought I had sold (but hadn't) and the other one I had no memory of actually owning!

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I've been at a do and said to my mates.....I like this, good record, who is it by?.....for them to say...you have a copy...penny drops!!!!!....oh yeah, I have....who's it by again?....common problem for me......Rob

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I NEVER carried around a list of what I had when digging for records. When I was first starting out, it was fairly easy to remember which records I had already bought. But after I had over 3,000-4,000, I started to pick up duplicates. That was okay, because I didn't always remember what condition mine was in, and could trade duplicates with other collectors for records I wanted. After I had over 10,000 and lots of different label runs, just missing a few numbers, here or there, it was harder to remember which particular obscure records I had and didn't have by prolific artists. I often passed up a record I had thought I already bought, because I already had over 10 records by him, her or them on the same label, or I had seen the record many times in other collectors' collections or in shops when the price was too high for me to buy it ( I bought so many 45s that I didn't like to spend more than 25¢ or 33¢ on most, records, and would only spend $1 on very rare records, as I bought thousands at 5¢ and 10 ¢ in thrift stores, and hundreds from record shop bargain bins at 10, 5, 4, and 3 for a Dollar). So, I often passed up records I already had, continuing to think I already had it, as I had seen it so many times. Or, I bought the same record 10 times, forgetting that I had already upgraded the condition of the first one I had. I had a few Platters' Mercury records which I had 7 to 10 copies. Same with a few Brook Bentons, Flamingos on End, Dell Vikings on Dot, and the like.

They were mostly R&B/Pop crossover acts, but those records I couldn't keep track on were obscure non- charters. But, unlike your case, I could always trade them off, and they had cost me next to nothing, anyway. So, no harm done. But it was maddening, nonetheless, hoping to fill in the missing records, and continuing to buy records I already had, in their stead. After about 5 years of collecting (age 12) I already had too many records to take a list of what I had. And I wanted to obtain ALL decent sounding R&B, Blues, Gospel and Jazz (that was before "Soul" started), so it would have been pointless for me to carry around a "wants list" with me while scrounging for records.

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Me too, try to put 'em all in an Excel sheet but with records sellin' and others buyin' and not so many time to spend on it it's everyday more difficult to keep it updated. Luckily I didn't buy anything I already own. Till now...

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Bought a record I already had several times, sometimes hear something I really like, enquire what it was, only to realize i've known it for years, totally forgotten the tune. As to having too many records, once i had FIVE sets of the Motown story (and never played any).

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Common problem, at the Manchester Ritz All-Nighter, I bought 2 copies of Babe Ruth - Elusive, 1 was a UK-Capitol Demo (Pink) & the other a (White) Capitol Import /Export Demo bought 1 & half hrs apart been distracted by all that good music...!...as it happened the White Demo has an Extended 5mins version ....2 for 1 eh...!!

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Don't think I've ever bought something that I already had, my problem is when I'm out & hearing even obvious oldies & can't for the life of me think what it is &/or hearing something I've had in my collection for years & can't think what it is. If I carry on like this I can relive my youth as they'll all be newies. might even buy some baggies .....baggy shorts anyway